This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20832740
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Syria unrest: Air strike on bakery 'kills dozens' | Syria unrest: Air strike on bakery 'kills dozens' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Dozens of people have been killed and scores more wounded in an air strike on a bakery in the central Syrian province of Hama, opposition activists say. | |
| The incident took place in Halfaya, a town recently captured by rebels. | The incident took place in Halfaya, a town recently captured by rebels. |
| If activists' reports of 90 deaths are confirmed, this would be one of the deadliest air strikes of the civil war. | If activists' reports of 90 deaths are confirmed, this would be one of the deadliest air strikes of the civil war. |
| Rebels have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad for 21 months, with opposition groups saying more than 44,000 people have been killed. | Rebels have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad for 21 months, with opposition groups saying more than 44,000 people have been killed. |
| The latest violence comes as the joint United Nations-Arab League special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, arrived in Damascus to discuss ways to end the unrest. | The latest violence comes as the joint United Nations-Arab League special envoy on Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, arrived in Damascus to discuss ways to end the unrest. |
| 'Women and children' | 'Women and children' |
| One activist in Halfaya, Samer al-Hamawi, told Reuters news agency: "There is no way to really know yet how many people were killed. When I got there, I could see piles of bodies all over the ground. | One activist in Halfaya, Samer al-Hamawi, told Reuters news agency: "There is no way to really know yet how many people were killed. When I got there, I could see piles of bodies all over the ground. |
| "We hadn't received flour in around three days so everyone was going to the bakery today, and lots of them were women and children. I still don't know yet if my relatives are among the dead." | "We hadn't received flour in around three days so everyone was going to the bakery today, and lots of them were women and children. I still don't know yet if my relatives are among the dead." |
| Unverified video footage purportedly of the incident's aftermath showed graphic images of bloody bodies strewn on a road outside a partially destroyed building. | Unverified video footage purportedly of the incident's aftermath showed graphic images of bloody bodies strewn on a road outside a partially destroyed building. |
| Rescuers were trying to remove some of the victims buried beneath piles of bricks and rubble. | Rescuers were trying to remove some of the victims buried beneath piles of bricks and rubble. |
| Several badly damaged motorbikes could be seen scattered near the site of the attack which had drawn a number of armed men to the area. | Several badly damaged motorbikes could be seen scattered near the site of the attack which had drawn a number of armed men to the area. |
| The UK-based opposition activist group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said more than 50 of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise. | |
| Rebels of the Free Syrian Army have been making a concerted push recently to take areas of Hama province. | Rebels of the Free Syrian Army have been making a concerted push recently to take areas of Hama province. |
| Five days ago they declared Halfaya a "liberated area" after taking over army positions there. | Five days ago they declared Halfaya a "liberated area" after taking over army positions there. |
| The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the rebels want to take control of the whole of Hama and link up the territory they control. As has happened many times before, he says, the government has hit back with massive firepower at the areas it has lost. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the rebels want to take control of the whole of Hama and link up the territory they control. As has happened many times before, he says, the government has hit back with massive firepower at the areas it has lost. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been other air strikes on Sunday, including one on the town of Safira in northern Aleppo province, which killed 13 people. | |
| The Observatory also reported that jets had struck the town of Saqba, just north of Damascus. | The Observatory also reported that jets had struck the town of Saqba, just north of Damascus. |
| It said more than 180 people had been killed across the country on Sunday. | |
| Fighting near Damascus airport forced the special envoy - on his third trip to Syria since taking the post - to arrive overland from neighbouring Lebanon. | |
| He is expected to meet Syria's foreign minister and President Assad. | He is expected to meet Syria's foreign minister and President Assad. |
| However, Mr Brahimi has made little progress on a peace process so far and it is unclear what new ideas he may be bringing. | However, Mr Brahimi has made little progress on a peace process so far and it is unclear what new ideas he may be bringing. |
| Our correspondent says the rebels now have a clear sense of victory and will not call off their attacks while they feel success is imminent. | Our correspondent says the rebels now have a clear sense of victory and will not call off their attacks while they feel success is imminent. |
| He says the rebels' primary demand is for President Assad to go and, should that happen, the international community is hoping there may be a chance for negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power. | He says the rebels' primary demand is for President Assad to go and, should that happen, the international community is hoping there may be a chance for negotiations for a peaceful transfer of power. |
| Are you in the Hama province? Are you affected by events in Syria? You can share your experiences and stories using the form below. | Are you in the Hama province? Are you affected by events in Syria? You can share your experiences and stories using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions | Read the terms and conditions |